I have no idea how to describe my sound. I play several instruments and sing.

LYRICS:

You've waited all this time
And now she says she'll never find
Her way back home
You're hanging on the telephone
You can't believe a word she says
You can't believe her love is dead and gone
This wasn't what you counted on

There's a hole in your bed
You don't like it
Time on your hands
You just waste it
Pain in your heart
She's not here to hold
No, she's not here now

All night
All night long
You listened to her
Sing her sad, sad song
You didn't leave her
All night, all night long
You listened to her cry
And waited for goodbye

You think about the years
And all the time and all the tears
You cried in vain
And still you want her back again
You feel it every time you breathe
And wonder if you'll ever be the same
You wonder how things might have been

There's a hole in your bed
You don't like it
Time on your hands
You just waste it
Pain in your heart
She's not here to hold
No she's not here now

All night
All night long
You listened to her
Sing her sad, sad song
You didn't leave her
All night, all night long
You listened to her cry
And waited for goodbye

WAITING FOR GOODBYE

JOEY/CHORUS
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY
DO YOU SEE THAT GUY?
WATCH HIM CHECKING OUT THE MENU
FOR SOME BLUEBERRY PIE

JOEY
HE'S A FAG
HE'S A QUEER
PROBABLY WEARS A BRASSIERE

HANK
I COULD GAG
IT'S OBSCENE
HE'S A HOMECOMING QUEEN

JOEY
WATCH HIM WALKING BY
ISN'T EVEN SHY
(imitating the guy)
WATCH HIM STRUTTIN' LIKE A PEACOCK WITH HIS
FEATHERS HIGH

(The men keep coming one after another. Some congregate outside Sailor's as others go inside and start to dance, their silhouettes seen against a window screen)

JOEY
HE'S A FRUIT
HE'S A TWINK
HE'S A TEN DOLLAR DRINK

HANK
IS IT TRUE THEY'RE DISEASED?

JOEY
WHY NOT GIVE HIM A SQUEEZE?
WATCH HIM WALKING BY
ISN'T EVEN SHY

HANK
(gestures toward a couple making out)
WATCH HIM SNACKING ON THAT NANCY
LIKE IT'S DO OR DIE

(GEORGE, in the meantime, is a deer in the headlights, standing there stiffly, gaping at the spectacle)

JOEY/HANK/CHORUS
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY
DO YOU SEE THAT GUY?
WATCH HIM CHECKING OUT THE MENU
FOR SOME BLUEBERRY PIE

(JOEY dances around GEORGE now, waving a limp wrist, as)

JOEY
(exaggerated lisp)
HE’S A BRUTE
HE’S A PRISS
(nudges GEORGE toward bar)
YOU SHOULD GIVE HIM A KISS

(GEORGE jerks away as if jolted awake and backs up, clearly agitated. During the following, his agitation slowly morphs into hot white anger)

HANK
THEY’RE SO CRUDE
WHAT A BUNCH
THINK I'M LOSING MY LUNCH

JOEY
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY

HANK
THEY AREN'T EVEN SHY

JOEY
WATCH 'EM GRAB THOSE POCKET ROCKETS
LIKE IT'S FOURTH OF JULY

JOEY/HANK/CHORUS
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY
WATCH 'EM WALKING BY
DO YOU SEE THAT GUY?
WATCH HIM CHECKING OUT THE MENU
FOR SOME BLUEBERRY PIE

GEORGE
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOU’D BETTER GET ON YOUR KNEES
OUR FATHER MUST BE APPEASED

OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOU'D BETTER GET ON YOUR KNEES
OUR FATHER MUST BE APPEASED

GEORGE
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN

RAFE
GO HOME, OLD MAN

GEORGE
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN

RAFE
LEAVE WHILE YOU CAN

GEORGE
YOU’D BETTER GET ON YOUR KNEES

RAFE
I CAN’T GUARANTEE YOUR SAFETY, DEAR

GEORGE
OUR FATHER MUST BE APPEASED

RAFE
YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GET AWAY FROM HERE

MAN #1 & #2
TAKE YOUR PIOUS BULLSHIT
AND THAT HALO IN YOUR POCKET
AND GO TELL YOUR PRECIOUS FATHER
JUST EXACTLY WHERE TO SHOVE IT

ALL FOUR
SCREW YOUR PHOBIC HANG UP
AND THAT BOOK YOU HOLD SO HOLY
FULL OF WORDS YOU’VE TURNED AND TWISTED
INTO SOMETHING CRUEL AND UGLY

GEORGE
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOU’D BETTER GET ON YOUR KNEES
OUR FATHER MUST BE APPEASED
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
OUR FATHER WILL STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOU’D BETTER GET ON YOUR KNEES
OUR FATHER MUST BE APPEASED

YOUR FATHER SHOULD STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOUR FATHER SHOULD STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOUR FATHER SHOULD STRIKE YOU DOWN
YOUR FATHER SHOULD STRIKE YOU DOWN

© Robert Gregory Browne

Walking By

05 - WALKING BY (Joey, Hank, George, Ensemble)

TOM
I know you’re hurting mom
But living here wasn’t much fun
And everything you say to me
Counters everything you’ve ever done

You cry and tell me you’re sorry
And expect me to give you a pass
Then Katie comes to your defense
for throwing me out on my ass

NOW I’M HERE STUCK IN LIMBO
BUT WHY NOT CALL IT HELL?
AND ALL I HAVE ARE MEMORIES
OF A TIME I KNOW SO WELL

(As if energized by the music, TOM gets to his feet, using the walker to do a little dance as he sings)

DADDY WANTS A SON WHO’S ALWAYS LIVING
IN A STATE OF DENIAL
MOMMY WANTS A CHILD WHO ALWAYS SAYS
HE’S FEELING PERFECTLY FINE

(LOUISE goes to hug him again but he slips away)

OH OH OH
(lewd hip pumping)
SISSY DOESN’T LIKE THE BOYS WHO DO THOSE
NASTY THINGS IN THE BIBLE

(KATIE turns away in disgust)

DADDY DOESN’T WANT A SON UNLESS HE SAYS
HE’LL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE

(Now RAFE and three of the MEN from Sailor’s stand up from audience seats)

RAFE
And Tommy’s not the only one
A lot of us wear those shoes

MAN #1
The minute we open that closet
we start paying our dues

MAN #2
The hardest thing we’ve ever done
is greeted with contempt

MAN #3
And the ones who say they love us
have decided we’re exempt

TOM
(to GEORGE)
THEN YOU SAY I’M PERVERTED
AND SEND ME TO BE CURED
BUT YOU CAN’T EVEN FATHOM
THE PAIN THAT I’VE ENDURED

TOM/RAFE/MEN
DADDY WANTS A SON WHO’S ALWAYS LIVING
IN A STATE OF DENIAL
MOMMY WANTS A CHILD WHO ALWAYS SAYS
HE’S FEELING PERFECTLY FINE
OH OH OH
SISSY DOESN’T LIKE THE BOYS WHO DO THOSE
NASTY THINGS IN THE BIBLE
DADDY DOESN’T WANT A SON UNLESS HE SAYS
HE’LL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE

RAFE
THEY TRIED TO MAKE ME WEAR A FUCKING STOP SIGN

MAN #1
THEY LOOKED AT ME WITH BLINDERS ON

MAN #2
LIKE LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF HATE CRIME

MAN #3
WISHING I WAS DEAD AND GONE

MAN #1
DID EVERYTHING THEY COULD TO TRY TO SHAME ME

MAN #2
THEY NEARLY MADE ME LOSE MY MIND

MAN #3
HERE’S SOME CASH
HERE’S YOUR TICKET

MAN #1
CUZ YOUR DADDY IS A BIGOT

RAFE
BETTER LEAVE YOU FUCKING FAGGOT
OR HE’LL TELL YOU WHERE TO STICK IT

(Now TWO WOMEN stand up in the audience and sing along)

TOM/OTHERS
DADDY WANTS A SON WHO’S ALWAYS LIVING
IN A STATE OF DENIAL
MOMMY WANTS A CHILD WHO ALWAYS SAYS
HE’S FEELING PERFECTLY FINE
OH OH OH
SISSY DOESN’T LIKE THE BOYS WHO DO THOSE
NASTY THINGS IN THE BIBLE
DADDY DOESN’T WANT A SON UNLESS HE SAYS
HE’LL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE

(Now two more AUDIENCE MEMBERS stand up and sing along)

DADDY WANTS A SON WHO’S ALWAYS LIVING
IN A STATE OF DENIAL
MOMMY WANTS A CHILD WHO ALWAYS SAYS
HE’S FEELING PERFECTLY FINE
OH OH OH
SISSY DOESN’T LIKE THE BOYS WHO DO THOSE
NASTY THINGS IN THE BIBLE
DADDY DOESN’T WANT A SON UNLESS HE SAYS
HE’LL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE
OH OH OH
DADDY DOESN’T WANT A SON UNLESS HE SAYS
HE’LL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE
DADDY DOESN’T WANT A SON UNLESS HE SAYS
HE’LL WALK A STRAIGHT LINE
OH OH OH

© Robert Gregory Browne

09 - STATE OF DENIAL (Tom, Rafe, Ensemble)

A strange little thing I wrote one night.

CATCH YOU IF I CAN

NYLON & IVORY

Brand New Day

FLUTE CLOSE ASSIGNMENT

BASSOON CLOSE ASSIGNMENT

HORNS ASSIGNMENT

OBOE TEST 2

AFTER THE FIRE IS GONE

CELLO TEST

Cover Version

01 - HISTORY LESSON

TOM
YOU WALK IN THE SHADOWS OF MY HEART
A SHIVER OF COLD
A NIGHT SO DARK
I COULDN'T ERASE YOUR FEAR
SO YOU LEFT ME HERE
ALONE

I WANDER THE HALL FROM ROOM TO ROOM
A BILLOWING WIND
THE FADING MOON
I COULDN'T REPLACE YOUR FEAR
SO YOU LEFT ME HERE
ALONE

THE NIGHT GOES ON
GOES ON AND ON
WITHOUT YOU
NO ENDINGS YET
I CAN'T FORGET
ABOUT YOU

YOU WALK IN THE CORNERS OF MY MIND
A SLIVER OF PAIN
A DISTANT CHIME
I WOULDN'T EMBRACE YOUR FEAR
SO YOU LEFT ME HERE
ALONE

(He puts the guitar down and takes the sweater from the hook, holds it to his nose, then chest, and dances with it, moving with grace...)

THE NIGHT GOES ON
GOES ON AND ON
WITHOUT YOU
NO ENDINGS YET
I CAN'T FORGET ABOUT YOU

YOU WALK IN THE SHADOWS OF MY HEART
A SHIVER OF COLD
A NIGHT SO DARK
I COULDN'T ERASE YOUR FEAR
SO YOU LEFT ME HERE
ALONE

© Robert Gregory Browne

02 - ALONE (Tom)

Quick and dirty test of the Sampletekk Black Grand (close version). I carved out a bit of EQ at the mid-highs and added a limiter.

Black Grand Test (Sampletekk)

© Robert Gregory Browne

(LOUISE)

REMEMBER THE TIME
WHEN I HELD HIM IN MINE
AND I CARRIED HIM UP TO HIS BED?

REMEMBER THE DAYS
WHEN I'D KISS IT AWAY
ALL THE PAIN, ALL THE HEARTBREAK HE SHARED?

WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU NOW?
HOW COULD I LET THAT TIME GO?

REMEMBER THE BOY
WITH A SOUL FULL OF JOY
WHO WOULD SLEEP IN THE FOLD OF MY ARM?

REMEMBER THE SMILE
AND THE LAUGH OF A CHILD
WHO HAD NOTHING BUT LOVE IN HIS HEART?

WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU NOW?
WHY SHOULD I LET THAT BOY GO?

I DON'T WANT TO CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP AGAIN
I DON'T WANT TO BE AFRAID TO SAY HIS NAME
WHY SHOULD I BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MY FAITH
AND MY SON?

HOW CAN I BE STRONG ENOUGH TO LET HIM GO?
WHY CAN'T I RESIST AND TELL HIS FATHER NO?
WHY CAN'T I JUST HOLD HIM CLOSE AND ASK THE LORD TO FORGIVE?

REMEMBER THE DAY
THAT I TAUGHT HIM TO PRAY
AND I TOLD HIM THE WAGES OF SIN?

REMEMBER THE NIGHT
THAT HE BROKE DOWN AND CRIED
AND HE SAID HE WAS NOT LIKE HIS FRIENDS?

WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU NOW?
HOW COULD YOU BREAK OUR HEARTS SO?

I DON'T WANT TO FIGHT THIS FEELING EVERY DAY
I DON'T WANT TO HIDE THESE MEMORIES AWAY
WHY SHOULD I BE FORCED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN MY HEART AND MY SOUL?

I DON'T THINK I'M STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY ON
I CAN'T KEEP PRETENDING WHEN I KNOW HE'S GONE
WHY CAN'T I JUST HOLD HIM CLOSE AGAIN AND NEVER LET GO?

REMEMBER THE TIME
WHEN I HELD HIM IN MINE
AND I CARRIED HIM UP TO HIS BED?

WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU NOW?
HOW CAN I LET THAT TIME GO?

WHERE ARE YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU?
WHO ARE YOU NOW?
HOW CAN I LET THAT TIME GO?

© Robert Gregory Browne

Robert Gregory Browne

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